BOCA RATON, Fla. (5-10-2008) ?  Florida Atlantic jumped out to a 6-0 first inning lead and never looked back as the Owls (27-23, 13-11) evened the Sun Belt Conference series with Arkansas State with a 20-3 victory over the Indians (19-31, 8-18) Saturday afternoon at FAU Stadium.

Five of Florida Atlantic's first-inning runs were unearned as the Owls took advantage of two Indian errors to jump out to the quick lead. 

FAU added two more runs in the second to stretch the Owl lead to 8-0 before ASU got on the board with a run in the third.

Sophomore second baseman Jordan Kimball reached on a fielder's choice and scored on an RBI single from junior center fielder Derrick Coleman to score the run for the Indians.

Florida Atlantic sent 15 batters to the plate in the fourth as the Owls erupted for 11 runs in the inning to go up 19-1, and the Owls added another run in the sixth to make it 20-1.

Freshman designated hitter Murray Watts hit a solo home run to lead off the seventh for the Indians, and Watts doubled before eventually scoring on a passed ball in the ninth to score Arkansas State's third run.

Senior Joel Boeschen (3-4) took the loss on the mound for ASU, giving up 10 runs on eight hits in three innings of work.  Boeschen walked two batters and struck out three.

Senior Michael Obradovich worked six innings to pick up the win for FAU.  Obradovich gave up one run on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

Junior third baseman Guy Brown went 2-for-3 to lead ASU at the plate, while Watts was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.  Catcher Alex Silversmith and designated hitter Tom Hatcher each went 3-for-3 to lead the Owls, with Silversmith driving in two runs and scoring four times.

The Indians and Owls will decide the series Sunday at noon (CDT).